Eversource threatens environmental group with legal action over overcharging accusations

HARTFORD, Conn. — Eversource Energy said on Monday it was putting the Environmental Defense Fund on notice that the company will pursue legal action if EDF doesn’t halt “its false and defamatory statements” regarding Eversource’s gas purchasing practices.

“Your false and misleading statements are immediately actionable and expose you and those acting in concert with you to liability for substantial damages,” the letter read. “If you do not cease and desist from all further publication of such statements, Eversource will take all appropriate action; indeed, we have retained outside counsel to protect our rights.”

In October, the group released an analysis saying that families and businesses in New England paid an estimated $3.6 billion in artificially inflated bills over just three years.

Eversource said it makes no profit on the energy supply portion of the bill. Whether supply costs go up or down, fuel costs are passed directly to customers in adherence with state regulations.

A federal lawsuit filed in Boston alleged Eversource Energy and energy company Avangrid Inc. caused New England electric customers to get overcharged by $3.6 billion using an “anti-competitive scheme” to manipulate energy prices.